Grand jury meets on Wal-Mart hiring allegations

(December 11, 2003) - (Bentonville-AP) -- A federal grand jury is to begin meeting in Pennsylvania today to consider a case against Bentonville-based Wal-Mart. The company says it is the target of an investigation into alleged use of illegal worker by contractors hired to clean floors at its stores.
Assistant U-S Attorney Wayne Samuelson won't comment on specifics but says the investigation will be a long one. The company says it can't comment about grand jury proceedings. Grand juries meet in secret and can hand up indictments.
Janitorial companies hired by Wal-Mart were at the center of a 21-state sweep of 60 Wal-Mart stores October 23rd. About 250 workers from 18 different countries were arrested, and ten of them were employed by Wal-Mart itself.